Ian Rapoport: Cowboys are starting QB Dak Prescott post-bye vs #Eagles, source said.

[CowboyRoy]

If I'm the Cowboys I put out "reports" that tony is healthy and throwing and practicing

Need to have the eagles spend time preparing for Tony

And why do you need time preparing for Romo? Immobile, fragile, cant escape the pocket anymore, hit him late a few times and he may break, bad back prevents him from throwing deep, rusty, dont worry about bootlegs, QB keepers, QB running, QB sneak, waggle plays, option plays. He will try to extend plays and may fumble, get sacked, or throw a pick. Prone to making the big mistake.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

It's not a 'bash' or 'knock' of Romo as some people want to see it, but a critical assessment of all of the factors involved, with loyalties and emotions removed.

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one, in this case Romo. Someone can understand and appreciate everything he's done and everything he's endured and fought through without requiring the team to sacrifice winning to accommodate giving him his job back.

I'm frustrated for him about how things have worked out, from nit having the team around him, to his repeated injuries making him unavailable. I understand that, but I also understand that things can't be changed, and they won't be changed by simply putting him back out there.

Some want to simply assume that 2014 Romo will show up on the field, and score even more points than the team is currently scoring. That everything will somehow be "better", and not possibly worse. And the facts are that is speculation, ignoring the guy who never looked right in 2015, and threw 7 INT's vs 5 TD's before he not only got beaten, but crushed by the top defense he faced.

Instead of fondly looking backward, I would rather look forward, and at the present.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

How would it kill the dak/romo discussion? The prevailing thought around here and cowboyszone is that Romo would come back for the Browns?

Why should this happen?

 

[MRV52]

Booked it, Romo will be starting in Cleveland. If he is not back for that game we know our answer and that is that the organization wants to role with Dak. There shouldn't be no reason he is not healed by that time. If this was last year there is no doubt in my mind he would have been back already.

 

[DallasCowboys2080]

Why should this happen?

Not that it should or will it just has been the prevailing thought. As to why it is I guess it's because they assume Romo will be rusty and the Browns would be the team to roll out a rusty Romo out rather than the Eagles. But now it's not rust it's health and readiness of that.

Latest thought is that Romo won't be ready for the Browns but rather for the Steelers. Just heard that on the Fan.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

I feel like Romo "deserves" his job back because of all he has done for us and he is the better QB right now, but Dak's performance can't be ignored and we are on a roll. Either way, it will be exciting when that decision is made.

I completely get what you're attempting to say here. I get and appreciate the angle but I think these two points need to be thoroughly examined from both a micro/macro perspective. Romo's been incredible and I get all the arguments about what he has or hasn't had at his disposal throughout the years but his ceiling has been the NFC divisional game for WHATEVER reason. Do we not expect greatness anymore as Cowboys fans? We have to take a hard look at was he's "given" us and I'm saying this as a Romo fan. Just because I'm enamored with Dak and believe he should remain the starter DOES NOT mean I don't appreciate and am not a fan of Romo. The point remains that our overall success and perception under the Romo era is that of a "yeah but" "almost" "underachieving" franchise NO MATTER the excuses. What I've come to appreciate is that we've become a NO EXCUSES, NO NONSENSE team of late. We don't need all conditions to be perfect. We're not concerned if our QB#1 is playing on a short week or has properly rested his back etc.. Missing our franchise LT... no worries. No Dez... still an efficient offense not missing a step.. Rookie backfield... no worries... OScan, Claiborne, The two on suspension, Collins, Romo, all missing significant time but we've been resilient.

The second point is the sentiment that Romo is a better QB right now? Certainly more experienced but this could certainly be questioned as well when you weigh all factors including health, chemistry etc..

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

Not that it should or will it just has been the prevailing thought. As to why it is I guess it's because they assume Romo will be rusty and the Browns would be the team to roll out a rusty Romo out rather than the Eagles. But now it's not rust it's health and readiness of that.

Latest thought is that Romo won't be ready for the Browns but rather for the Steelers. Just heard that on the Fan.

I get it but right now I don't get why that's even a "push" given our level of play of late? It just seems to be a forced thought and one out of obligation as opposed to simple logic at this point.

 

[TheBigEasy]

Assuming that I'll be crucified for asking this but what if, WHAT IF, Romo takes this offense to another level? Listen, I'm a Dallas Cowboy fan so I have nothing negative to say about anyone on this team. (See...I didn't mention 'owner' anywhere in that statement.) For the first time in a long time, I'm actually proud to be a fan of this team. They are playing solid TEAM football. So sticking w/ the 'hot' player means sticking with the 'hot' team as it's not just one guy controlling the W's. So, here we sit @ 5-1, getting healthy via this bye week, with a great problem to have on our hands. For the guys who are 100% on the Dak train, what if, WHAT IF Romo can take this team to another level. Past history shows that he can. Do you allow that possibility to remain holding the clipboard, and roll the dice with the current team or do they answer this 'what if' knowing that it's either going to fail or become a dream scenario? Now if it fails, what all are they losing? A game in the standings. This is the thing that I can't get past. The 'what if'...

 

[DallasCowboys2080]

I get it but right now I don't get why that's even a "push" given our level of play of late? It just seems to be a forced thought and one out of obligation as opposed to simple logic at this point.

Agreed. I guess it's because folks in Cowboys organization keep saying it's Romo's team. Romo now Dak for the future and they are just waiting for Romo to heal and and be ready to start again.

I'm of the strong opinion u roll with the hot hand and like was mentioned before if it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

[Direwolf63]

I'm fine with it. I'm glad they decided quickly and were decisive. No dithering.

 

[SDCowboy]

I have the same mixed emotions. I feel like Romo "deserves" his job back because of all he has done for us and he is the better QB right now, but Dak's performance can't be ignored and we are on a roll. Either way, it will be exciting when that decision is made.

I'm not so sure on Romo being the better QB, right now. Don't get me wrong, the has been amazing and a HOF caliber QB, but careers taper and we saw how he played last year, and it wasn't pretty. It would be pretty hard to outplay Dak right now anyway. The guy isn't just playing great for a rookie. He's playing great, period.

And above all else, Romo could be a "better" QB right now and still not be the better QB for this current team.

 

[zack]

When Romo practices, this will be an issue. I wonder when he will practice?

 

[erod]

Rappaport is the king of reporting "Breaking News" on things everybody already knows.

That's when he's not just making stuff up.

 

[erod]

I'm not so sure on Romo being the better QB, right now. Don't get me wrong, the has been amazing and a HOF caliber QB, but careers taper and we saw how he played last year, and it wasn't pretty. It would be pretty hard to outplay Dak right now anyway. The guy isn't just playing great for a rookie. He's playing great, period.

And above all else, Romo could be a "better" QB right now and still not be the better QB for this current team.

I'd like to see it.

And slow down on Dak. He didn't play "great" on Sunday, and if he was Romo, folks would be wondering why he's not playing better than this. It's all relative. For a rookie, Dak is playing incredibly well. By Romo's career standards, not so much.

 

[wrongway]

It ain't broke, don't fix it.

Exactly!!! If dak lays an egg nice to have romo on the bench.

 

[SDCowboy]

I'd like to see it.

And slow down on Dak. He didn't play "great" on Sunday, and if he was Romo, folks would be wondering why he's not playing better than this. It's all relative. For a rookie, Dak is playing incredibly well. By Romo's career standards, not so much.

If Tony had 3TD's 1INT and a 117 passer rating in that game, I'd say he had a great game too.

 

[DallasEast]

Kills it for 2 weeks. we'll be beating this horse until Dak has a really crappy game (Which as a Boyz fan I hope not to see)

Just my opinion but the "until Dak has a really crappy game" can be substituted for "as long as Romo is on the roster." Prescott has shown enough potential in six games that a crappy game shouldn't be a relevant factor. All quarterbacks have had and will have crappy games. There are no exceptions. Prescott has "it." It would surprise me if he doesn't have a long, bright, and hopefully successful NFL future ahead of him.

No, in my opinion the entire discussion has been and shall be driven by individuals' perspective about Romo. Logic must ignore years of related rhetoric in order to contradict. The real possibility exists that Prescott retains the starting quarterback role indefinitely. However, untold numbers of horses will be beaten into glue many times over before this fabricated controversy ends.

Romo has been under some people's skin for so long it doesn't matter whether he can contribute to the offense for as little as a single game, drive, or one play, he is now history for some people. And some will continue talking about him being a hindrance to the offense and team until he is removed completely from the equation. Heck, some will continue talking about him long after that very real possibility happens also.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

If the eagles lose to Vikings then we can beat them they will have a very hard time getting back into the race

yea, it's a two team race imo, between Dallas and Washington

 

[tyke1doe]

I'll wait until Schefty reports it.

 

[THEHEREAFTER]

Assuming that I'll be crucified for asking this but what if, WHAT IF, Romo takes this offense to another level? Listen, I'm a Dallas Cowboy fan so I have nothing negative to say about anyone on this team. (See...I didn't mention 'owner' anywhere in that statement.) For the first time in a long time, I'm actually proud to be a fan of this team. They are playing solid TEAM football. So sticking w/ the 'hot' player means sticking with the 'hot' team as it's not just one guy controlling the W's. So, here we sit @ 5-1, getting healthy via this bye week, with a great problem to have on our hands. For the guys who are 100% on the Dak train, what if, WHAT IF Romo can take this team to another level. Past history shows that he can. Do you allow that possibility to remain holding the clipboard, and roll the dice with the current team or do they answer this 'what if' knowing that it's either going to fail or become a dream scenario? Now if it fails, what all are they losing? A game in the standings. This is the thing that I can't get past. The 'what if'...

Well said...and herein lies the dilemma if you're an advocate of Romo starting. It's certainly a valid thought but my counter would be does Romo's resume warrant immortality as the starter GIVEN HOW WELL WE'RE PLAYING? He's the best thing we've had and a terrific QB but I only replace Dak if your name is Tom Brady or one of a handful of ELITE QB's with hardware. Also of course there's risk involved... football is a game of cohesion, unity and chemistry. On several levels the fact can't be ignored that Dak is pushing all the right buttons from how the team is responding to him, to fans, to coaching to playmaking etc.. You KILL for this level of chemistry and performance. Why risk disturbing it? Further WHAT IF OUR EYES AREN'T DECEIVING US AND DAK REALLY IS THE REAL DEAL HE CONTINUOUSLY KEEPS PROVING THAT HE MIGHT BE? Do you look back? What if Belichick went back to Bledsoe? Hell what if Parcells went back to Bledsoe with us? Sometimes you don't look back... there's risk going to Romo just the same! If Tony gets in do we just ride him out? Let's say Tony only makes it to the wildcard or divisional round? Is that deemed successful? Is Tony the qb#1 next year? The decision is pretty clear to me. Fair or not Tony has had a very long ride and I think this is an example of TAKING ADVANTAGE OF YOUR OPPORTUNITIES. We've been a divisional champ before... We've been a #1 conference seed before. We've had 12-13 pro-bowlers before... We've been on a 7 game winning streak headed to the playoffs before... We've had a running game, pass rushers, skill positions and haven't gotten it done FOR WHATEVER REASON. Add to that Romo's health and plain unreliability. Factor in the fact that this Dak Prescott kid just looks/feels SPECIAL. I say you simply cannot look back at this point.